Bal Shree for city boy

If his love for mathematics has helped him secure third position in class, his knack for painting fetched him the prestigious Bal Shree award in creative art category.

Twelve-year-old Supratik Das almost jumped in joy when he was informed on Tuesday night that he was the sole recipient of the coveted award from the state for 2012.

A seventh-grader at Ranchi’s St Thomas School, Supratik will get a plaque, a citation, cash award and books.

The award is given by National Bal Bhavan that functions under the aegis of Union HRD ministry.

The selection process is elaborate and strict. A winner is chosen after screening at state, zonal and national levels, said Ganesh Reddy, chairperson of Jharkhand Bal Bhavan that is affiliated to the national body and conducts the selection process at the state-level.

“Not only painting, I was asked to do many other things like clay modelling and creating an attractive artefact using a bundle of old newspapers,” said Supratik. The Kadru boy took up the brush when he was only four-year-old. Parents Sumana and Partha Pratim said Supratik had also won many prizes in the past.

Both his teachers — artists Vinod Ranjan and Praveen Karmakar — are proud of his achievement. “He has a clear concept of colour composition,” said Karmakar.

The budding artist bagged the third prize at the 28th International Children’s Painting Competition on Environment in Asia-Pacific region in 2012. He was also nominated for the Pogo Amazing Kids Award last year.